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Flood situation worsens in Sardulgarh
After girdawari, farmers to get compensation in a week
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Admn takes pre-emptive steps to counter flood in Sutlej
Farmers to get seeds worth Rs 5 cr: Govt
Funds For Flood-Hit People
State’s Debt Burden
Old-Age Pension
Youths Facing Death in Dubai
House panel’s trip to Scotland ‘unprecedented’
Punjab IMA to observe bandh today
Situation better than last year: Power body
AK Kansal is UT’s Chief Vigilance Officer
Scam worth crores in bank
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Flood situation worsens in Sardulgarh
Bathinda, July 14 The nearly 60-foot breach near Bhunder village was causing alarm as it could not be plugged even after three days. Water was flowing in all directions from there and inundating standing crops. SK Sood, Executive Engineer of the Drainage Department, described the situation as “worse than yesterday”. “We are helplessly watching the situation as the floodwaters have not receded”, he said. Several persons in Kanewal village were marooned but they refused to be evacuated from their houses. Men of the Army and the ITBP continued to assist the civil authorities in supplying rations to residents of the cut-off villages and also carried sand bags to plug the breaches. More than 15 villages have been badly hit by the flood that has submerged crops on about 8,000 hectares. Residents of Sadhuwala, Kanewal and Bhunder villages were making efforts to plug the breaches by deploying JCB machines and tractors. The flood level in the Chandpura area on the other side of Mansa bordering Haryana was reducing. However, the Ghaggar was flowing above the danger mark at both places.
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After girdawari, farmers to get compensation in a week
Devigarh (Patiala), July 14 After reviewing the situation in the flood-hit villages, Kohar said once the girdawari process was complete, compensation would be disbursed among the affected farmers in a week. Talking to TNS, the minister said a compensation amount of Rs 20,000 had been fixed for the damage being caused by floods to mud houses, adding that for cemented houses, the compensation amount would be Rs 35,000. Kohar visited the flood-hit villages of Budhmore, Roorkee Malkaan, Mehmoodpur Roorkee, Maqboolpur Bhaini in the Devigarh area. Interacting with officials of different departments, the minister asked them to discharge their duties diligently and any laxity toward relief measures being undertaken for the flood-hit areas would be taken seriously. He also met family members of Soma and Deepa (brothers) of Budhmore village, who lost their lives after being washed away by the flood. He assured the family that the state government would provide job to one of their family members. Meanwhile, the district administration authorities said today that the
situation in Patiala had improved and the water level in the Ghaggar, seasonal rivulets and drains had receded.
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Crops submerged in
10 villages of Ferozepur Ferozepur, July 14 The affected farmers said that their paddy and fodder crops had been damaged absolutely as the water had passed above them bringing their growth to complete halt on one hand. They added that heavy rains, which lashed this area in the past few days, accumulated in their villages and converted a stretch spread in more than 300 acres of land into a big lake. The affected villages, where the rain water had accumulated from one feet to four feet, included Aarafke, Jeeva Bhedia, Lakha Bhedia, Aku Maste Ke, Dolatpur, Mahalam, Gulamiwala, Nizamwala, Katora, Sultanwali, Bhagewala and Attari. Santokh Singh, Tirlok Singh and Balbir Singh, the residents of affected villages, pointed out that these 10 villages had become a low-lying area as they were surrounded by two distributaries on two sides and one rail track on third side. The rainwater, which was supposed to go towards fourth side, did not drain out as there was no escape channel. They said that as their entire paddy and fodder crops had been damaged completely, the state government must come to their help without any delay. The rainwater must be drained out immediately and they must be given seeds for alternative crops which could be grown now. Sukhpal Singh Nannu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Revenue, Punjab, who alongwith Manjeet Singh, Tehsildar, Ferozepur and other officials visited the villages to meet the affected people, said the rainwater had accumulated as a section of residents of these villages had encroached upon a drain, made here many years ago to drain out water to overcome the problem of water logging in this area. He said that residents had suffered heavy losses on account of damage caused to their paddy and fodder crops. The state government would be urged to compensate the affected farmers as per quantum of losses suffered by them. The revenue official had been directed to make a survey of affected areas to assess the tentative losses suffered by farmers. He said he had planned to erect a gate in this area to prevent the entry of rainwater from other areas to these villages so that its accumulation could be avoided. He said that these gates would be helpful in draining out water from these villages to river Sutlej, which was running near to these villages.
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Admn takes
pre-emptive steps to counter flood in Sutlej Ferozepur, July 14 While police posts equipped with modern means of communication were set up at sensitive points in flood-prone pockets, the people and other officials had been directed to keep a round-the-clock watch on the Dussi bund in their respective areas. “All the officials of different departments have been directed not to leave their respective headquarters without prior permission from the Deputy Commissioner or sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs),” said Deputy Commissioner K.K. Yadav, adding that control rooms had been set up in different parts of district in the offices of deputy commissioner and SDMs. Sand-filled bags in required quantity had been kept at different points located near Ruknewala, Gatta Badshah, Kamalwala and Donatelu. The tarpaulin sheets had also been arranged in required quantity. To shift the people to safer places in case of floods, 29 traditional boats and four motor boats had been kept ready. Fourteen relief camps had been set up. Thirteen groups had been constituted for providing potable water to flood affected people. Thirteen medical teams for human beings and 18 medical teams for cattle had been constituted. The officials of district food and supply department had been directed to make arrangements for eatables and other things including kerosene in case floods hit this area. The district officials had been asked to establish contact with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to take their help if needed. He said the Army and BSF authorities had also set up flood control rooms separately. These organisations had taken flood control measures as per their requirements.
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Farmers to get seeds worth Rs 5 cr: Govt
Samana, July 14 He said after consultation with experts of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and other universities, the state Agriculture Department would distribute seeds, including that of basmati, and moong, to the affected farmers. According to farmers, the areas of Devigarh, Dudhansadhan, Ghanaur and Patran are good for cultivating basmati, whereas the Samana belt is good for moong. After visiting various flood-hit villages of Samana, including Ghiora, Dharmheri, Merapur Choe and Kheti Barna, here yesterday, Langah said, “It has to be seen which areas are suitable for the cultivation of a particular seed. Hence our department will consult experts of PAU and agriculture universities on this issue and take decision accordingly.” Langah said: “All those farmers who have taken farms from landlords must submit applications mentioning this to the district administration.”
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Funds For Flood-Hit People
Chandigarh, July 14 Amarinder also supported the state government’s claim that the “illegal” Hansi-Butana Canal was acting as a barrier to the natural flow of the Ghaggar water and called for a permanent solution to the “crisis” unleashed by the canal. Addressing mediapersons here along with former minister Lal Singh, the former CM said the flooding in Patiala, Sangrur and Mansa districts was unprecedented. He said relief operations should not be politicised and that once the assessment of the funds needed for rehabilitation was made, the Congress was ready to approach the PM for the same. “We have our own responsibility and will ensure money is made available to Punjab”, he said adding that the government must in the meantime release Rs 2,300 crore in its possession under the calamity relief head. Speaking about the Hansi-Butana Canal, Amarinder said the recent flooding in Patiala district was due to it. He said during the previous Congress government, he had objected to its construction. Reading out from a report of the Central Water Commission, he said while 44 siphons were needed to ensure the smooth flow of the Ghaggar water from underneath the canal, Haryana had constructed only one siphon. He said Punjab must approach Haryana and ask it to remedy the situation till the Supreme Court took a final call on the Presidential Reference on termination of water agreements by Punjab. Lal Singh said the state had also witnessed widespread flooding because no maintenance works had been carried out on any of the bandhs along seasonal rivulets. He alleged that the state government had even failed to project its case properly due to which the second phase of the Ghaggar project was lying in limbo. “The non-completion of the second phase has resulted in the recent marooning of villages in Sangrur district”, he added. Answering questions, Amarinder said his government had handed over investigations into the alleged bribes taken by the then minister and now Vidhan Sabha Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon to recruit personnel in his department to the CBI. Welcoming the chargesheet filed against Kahlon by the CBI recently, Amarinder said the Punjab Cabinet had wrongly tried to stop the CBI from proceeding against the Speaker. He also said there was more than that met the eye in the case of suicide by Agriculture minister Sucha Singh Langah’s personal assistant. He alleged Langah was being “protected” by the CM despite the former’s secretary naming him in the suicide note written by him.
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Call ’84 riots ‘genocide,’ high priests tell Sikhs
Amritsar, July 14 “Sikhs were killed under a well-planned conspiracy across 110 cities and 18 states. So the act was nothing short of a genocide and it should be called by all Sikhs across the world. These were not mere riots. Real figures about the large-scale inhuman act have come to the fore for unrelenting efforts of the US-based International Human Rights Organisation’s legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. The Sikhs for Justice is an Akal Takht- recognised Sikh advocacy group and it was due to efforts of this organisation that a petition for the declaration of the 1984 events as genocide could be presented in Canadian Parliament. Over 25 years have passed, but the 1984 victims are still awaiting justice,” said the Jathedar. Meanwhile, the five Sikh high priests, led by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, have also made it clear that only those Sikhs or priests could perform and supervise the task of partaking of ‘Amrit ‘by others who had full knowledge of the Sikh religion and who could verbally recite ‘Japuji Sahib’, ‘Savviye’, ‘ Benti Chaupai’, and ‘Anand Sahib’. “The Sikh Sangat should not partake of Amrit from anyone who fails to qualify the laid down conditions and who cannot recite Sikh scriptures verbally,” said Giani Gurbachan Singh after addressing a meeting of the Sikh high priests. Besides, taking a serious note of describing ‘Shabads’ as songs in respect of caller tones, the high priests have warned all mobile companies not to describe “shabads” as mere songs in their recorded messages and other conversation. He said a committee would be set up to look into the issue of Rochester Gurdwara (US) where the entry of Amritdhari Sikhs was banned by a court.
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State’s Debt Burden
Jalandhar, July 14 By the end of this fiscal year, Punjab’s debt burden will cross Rs 71,000 crore. The government has to pay about Rs 6,000 crore per annum as interest on it. In fact, as the debt burden has been growing every year, the interest burden has also been going up accordingly. “It is a very crucial meeting as some very important fiscal matters will be discussed with Mukherjee from whom I have got a special appointment. Obviously I am a bit excited as well as nervous because the meeting will decide the future of the state’s economy,” said Manpreet Singh Badal. “I want that a part of the debt should be waived because most of it is of a period when the state faced bad times and remained under President’s rule. And the remaining debt should be rescheduled for payment over the next 30 years. The interest burden of the state should be reduced to Rs 2,000-2,500 crore from the existing Rs 6,000 crore per annum,” he added. To pay Rs 6,000 crore as interest for a state, which generates revenue of just Rs 10,000 crore from VAT is a big burden. In fact, the state has committed liabilities of Rs 19,000 crore, including salary, pension and interest. Part waiving and part rescheduling of the loans will give Punjab enough space to bounce back on the path of development. The other issue is of protecting the purchase and other taxes charged on the sale of foodgrains to the central pool. “We are all for introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a task most dear to Mukherjee, in the country provided the Centre gives us a guarantee that it will continue to compensate the state for the purchase and other taxes to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore on the sale of foodgrains,” said Manpreet. With the introduction of the GST, the purchase tax, etc will have to be done away with.
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Old-Age Pension
Chandigarh, July 14 A fresh state survey conducted by the Department of Social Security has revealed that 5 to 10 per cent of the total 18.5 lakh beneficiaries in the state have either been dead or did not exist or were not eligible to get Rs 250 per month that the government kept paying them every month for years. The total amount, which has been siphoned till now, runs into crores. The department is in the process of calculating the district wise worth of the scam. From among the reports received from the districts, the largest number of “wrong” beneficiaries has been found in Gurdaspur, where more than 20 per cent (about 14,000) of the listed beneficiaries were not supposed to be getting the pension. Here, the state government has given at least Rs 4 crore in “wrong hands” in just the past one year. Similarly, 10 percent of the total 41,000 listed beneficiaries in Mansa have been found to be ineligible, dead or non-existing. In scores of cases, pension was being given in the name of a beneficiary who had died and the village sarpanch never bothered to remove his or her name from the list. Actual payment receipts (APRs), which are to be submitted by the panchayat following payment to beneficiaries, bore fake thumb impressions shown as the thumb impression of the dead beneficiary. Other than those benefiting in the name of the dead, there are thousands who were clearly ineligible for the scheme but continued to bask in the state’s benevolence. Many have now been found to be under age (the eligibility is 60 years for a woman and 65 years for a man) or rich landlords who faked/forged their application documents to be enlisted as the needy. Other than these, thousands of beneficiaries were shown as listed but a physical check revealed that they did not exist. The money given in the name of the dead and non-existing beneficiaries was gobbled up by those involved in the process of preparing the list of beneficiaries and members of a village pension disbursement committee who preside over the distribution of the pension money received by the sarpanch. Interestingly, there is no system in place with the Social Security Department to cross check the final list of beneficiaries that is prepared at the village level and whetted by the block samiti. There used to be a system of preparation of list by department officials, which were then cross-checked by the SDMs. This system was done away with during the Cap Amarinder Singh’s regime in 2004 when all powers were given to the Panchayati Raj Institutions. A last survey of the beneficiaries was done in 2002 and a fresh survey was ordered last year following a Cabinet decision. Nine DCs have filed their reports (see box) and the rest are awaited. “We have issued instructions to these districts to remove the names of undeserving beneficiaries from their lists immediately. However, no decision has been taken on action against those involved in the scam,” said TR Sarangal, Principal
Secretary (Social Security). Sources, however, pointed out that the pension disbursement at the village level and the preparation of lists of beneficiaries reeks of politics and political leaders are bound to step in and “save” the culprits.
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Youths Facing Death in Dubai
Jagraon, July 14 The woman even posed as the Sultan's son-in-law by changing her voice over the phone to ensure that she was not suspected. Her plans to fleece the helpless families fell flat when the Ludhiana (rural) police laid a trap with the help of leaders of the Lok Bhalai Party and arrested her red-handed from the Zira bus stand yesterday evening. Sarabjit Kaur, a 45-year-old woman of Mahiyawala village near Zira in Ferozepore, who is hooked to opium, was arrested when she visited the Zira bus stand, clad in a burqa to accept Rs 6 lakh that she had demanded from the family of convict Kuldeep Singh, based in Khukhrana village in Moga district. Her three accomplices, including her brother Lakhwinder Singh, her nephew, Veer Bahadur Singh, and her cousin, Sukhpal Singh, however, managed to give the police a slip. The woman was paraded before the media at Jagraon by SSP, Ludhiana (rural), Harinder Singh Chahal today. According to Chahal, Sarabjit Kaur, who is mother of four grown-ups, including two sons and two daughters, and married to an agriculturist, masterminded the entire plan in connivance with her nephew. The latter procured the phone numbers of families of all 17 youths. She took upon herself the task of calling the families up one by one. She called up convict Kuldeep's brother, Jaspreet Singh posing as the son-in-law of Dubai's Sultan. Then she changed her voice saying Sultan's daughter was accompanying him. She demanded Rs 14 lakh for the job and the deal was finally struck at Rs 6 lakh. She called up another convict, Kulwinder Singh's brother in Bansipura village and offered a similar deal. She was in the process of contacting all families when she got a call from Kuldeep's brother, Jaspreet, that they agreed to get their brother released. Meanwhile, Jaspreet got in touch with Lok Bhalai leader Avtar Singh Mullanpuri, a resident of Sudhar, who has been helping these families. Mullanpuri contacted SSP Chahal and the latter constituted an investigating party to lay a trap and arrest her. As many as six SIM cards were seized from her. A case under Sections 420 and 120 B, IPC, has been regsitered against her and her accomplices. In her recorded telephonic conversation, the God-woman, who predicts the future of people in her village every Thursday, assured Kuldip Singh’s family about their son's immediate release.
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House panel’s trip to Scotland ‘unprecedented’
Chandigarh, July 14 The trip by the Assembly Pollution Control Committee (PCC) led by Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon follows a study on all four major distilleries in the state. The study by the PCC held that huge amounts of alcohol were present in a 30 km radius of the distilleries. According to a Finance Department official the trip was unprecedented because this was the first time that a Vidhan Sabha committee had gone abroad. The official said according to the rules, Assembly committees’ meetings should “normally” be held on the “premises” of the Vidhan Sabha. He said, however, meetings could be held outside the Assembly with the permission of the Speaker. According to sources a lot of Vidhan Sabha committees like to travel and hold meetings at hill stations, beach resorts and even as far as the Andaman and Nicobar islands. The government has to spend crores of rupees on travelling allowance for such meetings. The Finance Department official said, however, things seemed to be going out of control as far as the Scotland trip was concerned. He said besides spending on air travel and stay in a star hotel the government would have to pay travel and daily allowance to the legislators. Things are likely to come to a head at the end of the financial year as the Finance Department has refused to give any advance for the Scotland trip. Meanwhile the “Scotch” trip has invited ridicule from not only environmentalists but also the political establishment with former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, when questioned, indicating the committee was wasting taxpayers’ money. “They have gone ostensibly to see pollution management done by distilleries in Scotland even as the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has rubbished the report brought out by them before the trip”. Amarinder Singh said it seemed as if taxpayers were paying for a “nice holiday”. Noted environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal said he failed to understand why the Assembly committee had gone abroad to study systems in Scotland when the manufacturing process and even climatic conditions were different in India. Liquor in the country was produced from molasses while Scottish distilleries use grain.
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College grounds, but not for sportspersons
Fatehgarh Sahib, July 14 Besides affecting studies of students, these functions also lead to damaging of these grounds. “Various functions, including political events, Independence Day and Republic Day functions and three-day Jor Mela, are organised on the grounds of these colleges,” said Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Mandi Gobindgarh. Brother of Rajesh and his two nephews study in these colleges. He said even the district-level meetings of the ruling SAD-BJP leaders were also organised here. The ground of Mata Gujri College was used to erect a stage and tents for political and religious leaders to address public gatherings during the recently concluded celebrations of 300 years of Sirhind Fateh Diwas. Parents of students studying in these colleges said the situation worsened during state-level and religious functions when thousands of people thronged these colleges. There was hardly any other government building or institution where such large gatherings of people could be accommodated for such functions, sources said. Even sportspersons of the city do not have any place where they can practice to hone their skills. “Earlier we used to practice on those grounds, but now outsiders are not allowed there and there is no other place even for walking,” said Nitin, a resident of Preet Nagar. Political leaders had made many announcements regarding construction of stadiums where players could practice, but nothing had been done in that regard so far, he said. Meanwhile, a press note issued by Fatehgarh Sahib Deputy Commissioner Yashvir Mahajan said a district-level sports complex would soon be constructed on a six-acre chunk of land in Madhopur village. He also instructed ADC (D) Pradeep Singh Kaleke to ensure availability of sports infrastructure in every village of the district with the help of village panchayats.
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Punjab IMA to observe bandh today
Ropar, July 14 IMA president Dr RS Parmar said private practitioners would observe bandh from 9 am to 1 pm. Condemning the move of the Central Government to introduce the Clinical Establishment Bill, Dr Parmar said the government was trying to regulate a body, which is already regulated by the state medical council, Medical Council of India and 41 other acts. The Punjab IMA feels that governments have miserably failed to check misuse of allopathic and ayurvedic medicine by quacks. “The proposed Clinical Establishment Act requires incorporation of large number of trained paramedical staff which is impossible due to the shortage of trained manpower. Even the government-run medical institutes face crunch of trained manpower,” Dr Parmar reasoned. He advised consolidation of functioning of multiple licensing/inspecting authorities, thus eliminating harassment and dispensing away plethora of acts applicable to the medical profession.
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Situation better than last year: Power body
Patiala, July 14 According to the figures released by the PSPCL for June, the average demand stood at 1,540 lakh unit (LU), whereas the management had been able to arrange only around 1,456 LU. Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the PSPCL KD Chaudhry said average demand in July so far had been 1,574 LU against which, the corporation had been able to arrange 1,518 LU, including 165 LU from the state hydropower plants, 473 LU from the state thermal plants, 14 LU from new and renewable sources of energy, 138 LU from the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB) and 733 LU from the Central sector share and banking. Owing to better availability of power and timely onset of the monsoon, power cuts in July had been negligible, he claimed. The corporation was providing more than 11 hours of power supply to agricultural consumers and around nine-hour power supply in border areas.
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AK Kansal is UT’s Chief Vigilance Officer
Patiala, July 14 Senior Town Planner (STP) AS Tuli has been designated as the Additional Chief Town Planner. He will function from Chandigarh Headquarters and has been assigned the responsibility to look after the work pertaining to the Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar Municipal Corporation. Municipal Town Planner (MTP), Jalandhar, Hemant Batra has replaced Ludhiana MTP Tarlok Singh whereas Tarlok has been posted as the Jalandhar MTP. Chief Engineer Projects, Headquarters, Manmohan Singh, has been posted as the Superintending Engineer, Patiala Improvement Trust. Kansal told The Tribune that the emphasis would be on ensuring that works being undertaken by the civic bodies fulfil the requisite quality standards. “Stress would be laid on bringing more transparency in the functioning of the municipal corporations, councils and Trusts,” he asserted.
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Scam worth crores in bank
Amritsar, July 14 The bank in question is Kotak Mahindra’s branch on the Mall Road in Amritsar. The aggrieved account holders today raised slogans against the bank management for “misappropriating” their money. It has been alleged that with the connivance of some of the bank employees, several crores had been siphoned off from the accounts without the knowledge of their holders. When questioned by them, the bank allegedly justified the irregularities by incorporating fake entries in their passbooks or issuing them fake documents of investment policies and mutual funds. Arun Raste, head, Group Corporate, Kotak Mahindra Bank, said, “We have received complaints from some of our clients. We are investigating these complaints and will revert to the persons concerned.” Varinder Kumar, Police Commissioner, said a complaint against some of the bank employees had already been submitted by the management of the bank. “Besides, an FIR had been lodged against some staff members on the basis of another complaint of a similar nature.” Ranjit Singh, a resident of Chheharta, had deposited Rs 1.37 crore with the bank after getting compensation in lieu of his land. Today, he found just a few thousands in his account. “I was told that 1.14 lakh has been debited from my account and invested in short-term policies, without my knowledge,” he said.
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